"I'm impressed you got tickets for this play…" The woman says as she and her date enter the theatre and look for their seats, "A friend of mine saw it last week and said the lead was exceptional. I've heard such good things from a few colleagues. Did you know the lead is…"

"Mhm…" Harvey murmurs, wishing he were anywhere but at the theatre with his date, Carrie. It's not that he hated it, it's just that he never found a show to be particularly interesting. And the woman beside him was clearly a fan, whose passion he hoped he could understand by the end of the evening. She'd brought up this particular play several times and despite it being sold out, he'd manage to source some tickets through Donna. He'd rolled his eyes when she'd asked him which play he was interested, truth be told, he'd forgotten the name. So she'd just smirked and given him a number of a guy who could 'get anything for anyone' in the theatre world and left his office with a smirk, saying his date must be worth it.

As he sits down in his seat, Harvey surreptitiously checks the programme he'd purchased on arrival.

87 minutes.

God, he thought, this better be good.

"So what do you think Harvey?"

"Uh.. sorry, what were you saying?"

Carrie studies him for a second, "About the play?"

"Can't wait…" He murmurs just as the lights dim, for it to be over, he silently adds.

.
.

Five minutes. Five minutes is how far they get into the play for Harvey to know he never wants it to end. Because at that exact time interval, the leading lady steps out with a commanding presence and bright red hair he knows all too well. His eyes widen as he watches Donna in her true element. He realises this is the first time he's seen her on stage, sure he's heard her running lines late at night in the office, and he's even run lines with her a few times. But he can see now how much work she puts in behind the scenes, when she's not laughing at his bad delivery or attempts at accents. Harvey thought he'd been helping her but in reality, he can see now what a hindrance he'd perhaps been. Because seeing her now on that stage, she's absolutely magnificent.

.

.

He wonders if she'll see him but knows the odds are highly unlikely. There are hundreds of people packed into the room, the lights are dim, there's no way she could see him. And why would she even look out for him, he hadn't told her he'd be there. He can't expect that she'd search the audience for him every night.

But then, it happens.

Her eyes lock with his and it's like time stands still. He's not sure if anyone would notice the red blush of embarrassment creeping up her neck, or how she goes to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and tap her fingers on her side. It's her tells, ones Harvey has spent hours analysing, trying to figure her out. It had unnerved him, that first night in the bar when she'd approached him and read him so easily. He thought she was tougher to crack, but he'd been chiselling away, observing her every chance he got, always watching her from his desk, his eyes naturally drawn to her.

Harvey watches as her mouth falls open into a small 'o' shape, and the flush on her cheeks deepens. He knows he has a date beside him and there are so many others in the room, but all Harvey can see is Donna. And judging by her reaction, he's all she can see too.

The moment doesn't last much longer, not even a minute before a shadow crosses Donna's face and she's back in character. And Harvey remains glued to her, eyes tracking her every move and he leans forward, elbows resting on his thighs as he hangs on every word of her performance.

He remains in his seat for the rest of the evening, even during the intermission, not wanting to miss one second of her performance. When the curtain falls and the actors come out to take their bows, he's the first on his feet when she steps forward. Once again, their eyes meet and he can almost see the reflection of his broad, deep smile in her sparkling eyes.

.
.

"So I thought you said you weren't a fan of theatre?" Carrie asks as the two settle down at the table. She'd noticed how Harvey hadn't been able to keep his eyes off the stage, especially when the leading actress had stepped on. It's not like she thought this would go anywhere, Harvey had been fun on the first date and she hadn't really expected a second.

"What makes you think I enjoyed that?" Harvey snorts, taking a sip of his scotch and closing his eyes as the familiar burn drips down his throat.

"Well, there's the fact you couldn't keep your eyes off the lead, the redhead…" She retorts, eyes daring him to challenge her.

Harvey's mouth dries as his brain scrambles to think of a rebuttal or defence, because he can't deny he was absolutely enthralled by Donna. And he's not even bothered by the fact his date had noticed, for him, as soon as she'd stepped onto the stage, his night was always going to be about her.

"Look, if tonight isn't working out, no sweat…"

Harvey is about to try, when he sees that redhead walk in with the rest of the production. Carrie turns her head, following his eyes until she too lands on the topic of their conversation.

"Thanks for the evening Harvey," she stands, gathering her belongings before offering one last remark, "And I hope you know she's out of your league."

Harvey smirks to himself, because boy does he know that. It doesn't stop him from downing the rest of his drink and heading over to Donna's table, by way of the bar to grab them a few more drinks.

As soon as he gets to her table, standing right behind her, he freezes. If he were on stage, the audience would think he had stage fright and perhaps he does, because he hadn't really thought of a plan other than getting to her. And he looks down at his hands, two drinks in each, and thinks what a poor offering it is for her closing night.

Before he has a chance to back out, familiar eyes turn and meet his, dancing with surprise and glee as she cocks her head to the side.

"Is one of those for me?" Donna asks, hand already reaching for one of the drinks. Harvey just stands, mesmerised once again, taking in this dazzling aura she has in this very moment. Her smile is so wide and innocent, cheeks slightly flushed - from the alcohol and adrenaline stemming from closing her show. There's a part of him that hopes he's the cause of the flush as well.

"I would've bought you flowers but…"

"But…" Donna prods, tongue twirling around her straw as Harvey's eyes dilate, watching its journey.

"Next time…" He grins, before covering a gulp with a cough and glances around at her large, but already packed table. "What do you say we go find ourselves somewhere more quiet?"

.
.

Harvey hadn't known what he expected when he'd approached her table, he hadn't really meant to drag her away from her theatre friends but as soon as he'd got in her immediate vicinity, it's suddenly all he wanted to do. He'd turned his head, glancing around the packed bar until his eyes settled on a secluded table at the back. Donna's own eyes had followed his and before he had a chance to say anything, she'd grabbed his hand and weaved them through the crowd and slid into the table.

That's how Harvey finds himself pressed close to Donna, the table so small their thighs are pressed against each other as they sit side by side. Donna turns her body ever so slightly, so that her chin rests on her hand, a familiar, analytical look washing over her face.

"Where's your date?"

"How'd you know I wasn't just here for you?"

"Because I know you Harvey." She answers, jabbing a finger to his chest and biting her lip.

"Oh really?" He laughs, swatting her finger away.

"Uh-huh…" Donna nods, mouth circling round her tiny straw and sipping up the rest of her cocktail, "And, I saw you with that brunette."

"Yeah well…" Harvey trails off, because he doesn't know why he wants to say his date, Carrie, didn't matter as soon as he saw Donna step out onto the stage. When that had happened, nothing else seemed to matter. "Didn't work out."

Donna arches an eyebrow, "Before you'd even taken her home?"

"There's more to me than sex Donna," Harvey says, pointing a finger at her as he rolls her eyes.

"Uh huh…" She smirks, taking a sip of her drink before she breathes deeply. "So, what did you think?"

"Of the date?" He teases, relishing the feel of her hand on his shoulder as she feebly slaps him.

"Of the play… of me…"

"You were spectacular." Harvey replies rather forcefully, without a second thought, with the same determination he uses when arguing a case.

But at the same time, it's sad so softly and she wants to believe it was her best performance, despite her freezing. Looking at him now, with him telling her she was spectacular, Donna thinks that maybe she was, because he'd finally got the chance to see her in her element. As she mulls over her thoughts, she doesn't realise she's staring straight into Harvey's eyes and time seems to suspend around them, broken only by the arrival of a waiter with another round of drinks.

.
.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Harvey asks seriously, taking Donna aback with the seriousness in his voice. Instead of looking in his eyes, she fiddles with a drinks coaster between her hands.

"Oh you know…" Donna waves a hand and Harvey laughs, because he really, doesn't know.

"No seriously, your closing night? It's a big deal…"

Donna shrugs a shoulder, to be honest, she's not sure why she didn't tell Harvey about it. She'd told him about the audition all those months ago, she had to then, needing the afternoon off to attend the auditions. But..

"Tell me next time, okay?" Harvey's loud voice penetrates her thoughts, bringing her attention back to them in the present.

"Yeah, okay…"

"Good."

Donna studies him, she's excellent at reading people and after working alongside him for a year, she knows him. And she's 100% certain that a trip to the theatre isn't high on his list of favourite things to do, for anyone. But there's something so sincere in his voice now promising her he'll be at her future closing nights. And she's sure there was something else in his eyes earlier that made her feel like he was maybe hurt; hurt that she hadn't told him about this one.

"You're serious?"

"Of course I am." Harvey answers definitively, eyes twinkling.

"You're not into theatre…"

"I'm not, but I'm…" He stops himself saying into you, because this isn't a random woman he wants to pick up for a night of quick fun, this is Donna. And he understands her rule, he respects it and her, but there's something just enticing and intoxicating about being near her. He just wants to be around her all the time.

"I'm a fan of you… president of the fanclub even."

She cracks a wider smile, laughing, leaning closer, either not paying any attention to or caring about their close proximity.

"You've seen me perform once…"

"Sometimes once is all it takes…"

"Uh-huh…"

"Your stage presence," If they were close before, they're even closer now, so close that Harvey barely has to raise his voice for her to hear it over the noise of the bar, "The emotion…"

He continues to list all the reasons why he's a fan of her acting until he starts running out and all he can do is stare into her eyes as she watches him stutter, just like her on stage earlier except now, Harvey's the one who falters. Neither are sure why but they continue to move closer, so closer that just a tilt of Donna's head, Harvey could capture her lips in his. Staring into her eyes, he waits for any indication she wants him to back off. It doesn't come. So he brings a hand up to gently wrap around her slender neck, thumb travelling to trace her bottom lip, pausing when he feels, rather than sees, her gulp.

"My rule…" Donna murmurs, shifting her head closer so that their noses brush, his hand now cupping the side of her face.

"Your rule..." Harvey whispers against her lips. Before he has a chance to pull back, he hears her sigh and Donna tilts her head to press her mouth to his.

Harvey stops thinking then, when her lips move softly against his. He doesn't think about why he's more pleased than startled that she'd initiated the kiss, he's been thinking about kissing her ever since she'd approached him in a different bar, so long ago. Harvey doesn't even begin to compare the reality to what he'd imagined because he just can't think. Not when Donna's lips move so gently against his, he can taste the sweetness from her cocktail as her tongue slowly dances with his.

If Harvey does have a thought, it's how he wants to prolong this moment for as long as possible because he knows this is all they can ever allow each other.

Harvey slowly pulls his lips away from hers, sucking gently on her bottom lip when they eventually separate. Neither move and he catches the smile that spreads across her face.

"Harvey…"

"I know, I know but maybe we can add an addendum to your rule…" He laughs and she snorts in response. They both lean back, creating as much space between them as they can on the small table, and begin bickering like they always do.

"I don't think so…"

"I'll have you know, I'm the best lawyer in town…"

"Oh, believe me I've heard."

"What, you're afraid you'll fall for me?" He smirks. They do this often - not kiss - but flirt, push the boundaries of boss and subordinate, of coworkers and friends. Harvey enjoys it, lives for it even, to see her eyes twinkle as she calls him an idiot, to hear her laugh. He'd asked the question lightly, as a joke, but deep down, he wants to know the answer.

"Oh no, this is to protect you," Donna's eyes twinkle as she pushes herself off the table, gathering her belongings, and brushes close to Harvey, closer than she really needed to be.

"If you had me," Her voice is hot in his ear, "One time wouldn't be enough for you…And I kinda need this job..."

Donna pulls back, patting his shoulder before she saunters off, leaving him alone at the table with wide eyes and a disbelieving expression on his face. She calls his name over her shoulder and once again, the sound of the busy bar fades and it's just her voice he hears.

"See you on Monday, Harvey."

Thanks for reading!